Button



(No Model.) A

B. KEPLINGER.

BUTTON.

Patented Jan. 26; 1892.

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if 7 M 'iemytjj? AQfZ ZY 2 @ZMWM Jaw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. KEPLINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUTTON.

I SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 467,662, dated January26, 1892.. Application filed March 80, 1891. Serial No. 336,965. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. KEPLINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Buttons, which is fullyset forth in the following specification, reference being had to things, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of myimproved button; Fig. 2, aside elevation; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the button with the button-postremoved. Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional view taken at the line 44:, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken at the line 5 5,Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the top plate of the button. Fig. 7is a View of the metallic ring partly formed which is used to hold thedifferent parts of the button together. Fig. 8 is a plan view of thespring-plate. Fig. 9 is a top view of the bottom plates of the buttonwith the spring-plate removed. Fig. 10 is a bottom View of the bottomplate of the button. Fig. 11 are two views of the button-post, showingthe shape of the head of the post. Fig. 12 is an enlarged top view ofthe two bottom plates of the button with'the button-post inserted.

My invention relates to a removable button which is attached to agarment without being sewed permanently thereto and can be readilyremoved therefrom.

My invention consists in the shape of the end of the button post or stemwhich adapts it to readily penetrate the cloth and be withdrawntherefrom without catching on the cloth.

It further consists in the construction of the bottom portion of thebutton proper, by means of which the post or stem of the button passesthrough the bottom of the button and is locked therein by being turnedpartly around, as hereinafter described.

It further consists in the spring which is secured in the interior ofthe button which presses upon the end of the button post or stem to holdit in a locked position.

It further consists in certain combinations of different partshereinafter fully set forth 50 and made the subject-matter of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, A repre e accompanying draw- I sents thetop or face plate of the button, which may be made in any of thewell-known forms, either entirely of metal or be covered with cloth. Ipreferably make a metal button stamped with initials or letters, such asare used on uniforms for coachmen, policemen, firemen, soldi'ers,or anysociety uniforms; but it will be readily perceived that I can usecovered buttons with equal facility.

B is the bottom plate of the button, preferably stamped of the requisitesize, according to the size of the button I wish to make and withadownwardly-projecting boss O. Through the center of this boss there isahole adapted to receive the post or stem D of the button, and it is ofsuch shape as to allow the flattened and widened end of the post to passthrough it.

E is a plate which I preferably stamp of the same size in itscircumference as the plate B and of the same shape, so that it will restupon said plate B, and it also has a central boss F stamped upwardly orin the reverse direction from the boss 0 on the plate D when the two arein position, as shown in. Fig. 4. This upwardly-projecting boss F isprovided with a hole II, which is adapted to ,allow the flattened headof the stem or post D of the button to pass through it. It also has uponits upper side recesses I I to receive the flattened end of the head ofthe post or stem D of the button when it is turned partially aroundafter being inserted, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

J is a thin metal plate cut, as shown in Fig. 8, to make a double-actingspring K K at its center. This spring-plate J is preferably cut as largein circumference as the plates D and E, and it extends across the buttondirectly above the boss F on the plate E, and the spring portion K isthrown into position (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) and constantly pressesupon the end of the stem or post D of the button to hold it locked inposition in the notches I. The pointed end of the stem or post D hasthin edges, so that it readily penetrates the cloth when it is desiredto attach the button thereto. The button is placed upon the pointed endafter penetrating the cloth, the button being turned so that the widenedend will pass through the holes in the bosses C and F and raise thespring K, as shown. The stem or post D is then turned partly around, sothat the projecting portion of the pointed end will pass into therecesses or notches I, the spring serving to hold the projectingportions of the pointed end of the post or stem in said notches andprevent the button from turning on the post and keeping it locked in thebutton.

To remove the button from the post, it is necessary to press the stem orpost into the button sufficiently far to raise the projecting flattenedhead of the post from the notches I, then turning the button directlyaround on the post, when'the button can be readily removed from the postor stem D. The under sides of the projecting flattened end of the post Dare also inclined and made thin, so

that the button-post can be readily removed from the cloth of thegarment to which the button has been attached. This construction of theflattened end of the post D is fully illustrated in Fig. 11 of thedrawings. The post D has at one end of it a flat metal plate L, which isrigidly attached to the post- D and rests on the under side of the clothof the garment to which the button is attached to hold the button-postor stem securely in place. The various parts of the button are securedtogether by the metal ring M, swaged over their edges, clamping them alltogether, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The button stem or post Dwhen in place has two bearings, one bearing being in thedownwardly-projecting boss 0 and the other in the upwardly-projectingboss F. The spring-plate J may be cut out, as indicated in dotted lines,so as to save metal, and it need not be a complete circle. Its form maybe varied; but it must be of such shape as to be secured readily inplace to press against the top of the sharpened end of the post or stemD of the button to keep itlocked. The'end O of the spring K should be soformed as to strike against the face of the button when it is pressedsufficiently to allow the post to turn to and from the notches as thebutton is placed on the post or removed therefrom, as above described.In this way the spring will serve as a stop and not admit of the buttonbeing pressed upon the post too far.

I am able to make a very cheap and durable button that is attached toand removed from garments without materially injuring the garment andwithout sewing. I find that there is a great demand for a button of thiskind,

and that I can construct a button so simply and cheaply and that it canbe so readily applied to and removed from garments that it has a readysale.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation ofmyinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a separable button,the button-post D, having a circular stemprovided with a pointed and sharpened end made wider than the circularstem, the under part of said widened portion also having sharpened edgesprojecting downward from the widest point to the post, this widenedportion being adapted to penetrate and pass readily through the cloth ineither direction, and the plate L, attached to the lower end of saidcircular post, in combination with the plate E, secured in the buttonand provided with a central boss H, havingan opening adapted to receivethe widened head of thepost D and provided with recesses I, in which thepost is locked, and a spring secured within the button andresting on theend of the post to hold it locked, all substantially as specified.

2. In a detachable button,the combination of the plates B and E,provided with central bosses O and F, projecting in opposite directions,said bosses having circular openings to receive the post, provided withlateral slots opposite each other for the projecting sides of thewidened head of the post to pass through, the boss F being provided withrecesses or notches I to receive the widened end of the post when turnedin the button and hold it locked therein, the reverse bosses in saidplates forming two bearings for the stem or post D to hold the button inposition, and the stem or post D,substantially as specified.

3. In a detachable button,the combination of the plates B and E, havingtheir reverse central bosses O and F and circular openings, the boss Fbeing provided with recesses for locking the post in the button whenturned therein, and a spring K, arranged to press upon the top of saidpost and hold its widened portion in the notches II to lock it, butbeing capable of yielding sufficiently to admit of the postbeingunlocked and the button removed, and the post D, substantially asspecified.

-GEORGE B; KEPLINGER.

Witnesses:

ALOYSIA'HELMICH, L. L. OOBURN.

